Friends Celebrate Life of Terry Smutney

Terry Smutney, the voice of the disabled in the Eastern Sierra, died in March from lung cancer and complications associated with Gulf War Syndrome. Friends and relatives remembered Terry at a Celebration of Life over last weekend.

The weather turned beautiful on Saturday as Terry Smutneys friends gathered at his house in McGee Creek to celebrate his life. Guests loaded tables with food and Sue Ebersold, a close friend of Terrys, made a custom cake in memory of one of Terrys favorite places.

A color Guard presented the flags in a solemn show followed by Gary Meyers, former CEO of Mammoth Hospital and current Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra supporter and volunteer, leading the walk down memory lane of Terrys hurdles, goals and accomplishments. Kathy Copeland of Disabled Sports was among the friends who spoke.

The ceremony ended with Ruth Harrell leading everyone in Amazing Grace, with a bagpipe player marching over the hill and out of sight echoing the chorus to the song.

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About Benett Kessler

Always interested in writing, Benett was the editor of her high school paper, proceeded to the University of Chicago and then out West where she and John Heston formed Eastern Sierra News Service in Inyo County. They fed film to KNXT in Los Angeles and co-wrote and produced the first daily radio news in the Eastern Sierra. Their work ranged from a published news magazine to the first television newscast. They continued to provide videotaped news to KABC and other news outlets. After a seat on the Mammoth Times board and work as newswriter, Benett formed her own company, Sierra Broadcasters and launched an FM radio station, now KSRW and a broadcast television station, KSRW-TV33. The latest addition - Sierrawave.net. Her company motto: Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.